Since James Gunn took over as director of the DCU, a lot has changed, including Henry Cavill’s dismissal of future Superman roles and the cancelation ofWonder Woman 3. While fans were heartbroken to see Cavill leave the beloved Superman role, many believe it was a much-needed reset for DC to break the cycle of failures and ultimately catch up to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With the recent announcement of upcoming shows and films, James Gunn and Peter Safran have designed an eight-to-ten-year plan to retool the DCU, andthe first chapter is titled “Gods and Monsters.”
Among the “Gods and Monsters” announcements,The Brave and the Boldis one of the most anticipated movies of the newly reformed DCU, and the Bat Family is an essential part of the comic. Despite being the lone hero, Batman has put everything in place to ensure that criminals do not threaten Gotham in the future. As a result, numerous characters were introduced over the course of the comic’s existence from 1955 to 1983. These are the characters we’d like to see in the upcoming filmThe Brave and the Bold.
The DCU will introduce a brand-new Batman to the big screen inThe Brave and the Bold, as announced by Gunn. Apparently, the film will exist independently of director Matt Reeves’The Batmanuniverse and will center mainly onBruce Wayne and his son Damian, while also introducing new members of the Bat Family. So it comes as no surprise that Batman will be one of the main protagonists, but the question is, how will he impact the film?
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The proper introduction of Robin into the DCU would have a significant difference in following adventures, and this would largely depend on Batman and how he shaped his son Damian Wayne to become the best version of Robin. Although Batman will receive minimal spotlight aside from his infrequent confrontations with old nemeses and the Bat Family,The Brave and the Boldwould not be the same without him.
Damian Wayne as Robin
Damian Wayne, as Gunn described him, will be the latestRobin in the upcoming filmand possibly our favorite person to take on the mantle. Damian is the only child of Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul, Ra’s al Ghul’s daughter. He first surfaced in sight at the age of ten, as he was raised by his mother and trained in the League of Assassins. However, Talia eventually leaves him in the care of Bruce Wayne.
Damian develops a violent and self-important personality due to his upbringing in such harsh environments. Bruce lets him take on the role of Robin as his sidekick to teach him restraint and discipline, making him the latest person to use the Boy Wonder’s identity. Since it was stated thatThe Brave and the Boldwould be based on Grant Morrison’s run, the writer will have a huge influence on the whole DCU, making Damian a crucial part of the universe.
Dick Grayson as Nightwing
Nightwing is probably the true lock of the Bat Family because he is not only the previous Robin but also plays an important role in Damian’s character development. Dick Grayson wasn’t technically a member of the Bat Family until Bruce adopted him as his ward following his parents' untimely deaths.
After a grueling six months of training with Bruce, he was tasked with eluding the dark knight for an entire night, which he accomplished. Thus, Batman took him into the streets as his full-fledged partner in crime-solving as Robin. With Superman’s guidance, he abandons his identity as Robin and becomes Nightwing afterfounding the Teen Titans. This plot would now fit in well with the introduction of Damian Wayne’s Robin, making Nightwing a key character inThe Brave and the Bold.
Alfred Pennyworth
Is there ever a Batman story that does not include Alfred? Having raised Bruce Wayne and saved him from falling into the depths of remorse over the deaths of his parents, Alfred is undeniably the most valuable member of the Bat Family. He helps Bruce maintain his secret identity, looks over the Batcave, and is a constant source of guidance and inspiration.
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SinceThe Brave and the Boldmovie focuses heavily on other Bat Family members, Alfred would be an excellent mentor if the writers ever felt the need to give Bruce Wayne less screen time. His abilities in building suits, operating devices, and finding information will be required for future heroes who will carry on the legends of the past.
Barbara Gordon as Oracle/Batgirl
Barbara is the most popular Bat Family member after Dick Grayson. She is Commissioner Gordon’s daughter and an ally of Batman and Nightwing. From 1967 to 1988, she appeared in comic booksas the superheroine Batgirl, the second person to take up the role.
She later retired from the role after finding it less and less gratifying, renaming herself Oracle and devoting her time to constructing the world’s most complex computer system. This role not only provided her with a new purpose but also proved to be a valuable resource for Batman, Black Canary, and The Huntress. Therefore, it’s unclear whether Barbara will represent Batgirl or Oracle in the new film. However, given the cancelation of theBatgirlfilm, which was supposed to be released in 2022, Gunn may bring the superheroine back to the big screen soon.
